Don Rich
| Don Rich | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Donald Eugene Ulrich |
| Born |
August 15, 1941 Olympia, Washington, US |
| Died | July 17, 1974 (aged 32) San Luis Obispo, California |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, Fiddle, Vocals |
| Years active | 1959–1974 |
| Associated acts | Buck Owens, Doyle Holly |
| Notable instruments | |
| Gibson Les Paul | |
Donald Eugene Ulrich (August 15, 1941 – July 17, 1974), best known by the stage name Don Rich, was a country musician who helped develop the Bakersfield sound in the early 1960s. He was a noted guitarist and fiddler, and a member of The Buckaroos, the backing band of country singer Buck Owens. Rich was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 1974 at the age of 32.
Donald Eugene Ulrich was born in Olympia, Washington on August 15, 1941. The adopted son of Bill and Anne Ulrich, he grew up in nearby Tumwater, living at 6th and Ferry on Tumwater Hill, then later in a log house near Trosper Rd. and Capitol Blvd., next to his father's barbering business. His parents began teaching Don the fiddle as early as age three, his father building a small scale violin for him to play. His parents entered him in numerous talent contests and had him playing at various events. He also began playing the guitar at an early age.
While attending Olympia High School (from which he would graduate in 1959), Rich played in various local venues, as well as in the high school orchestra. In September 1957, at age 16, he opened for Elvis Presley at the Tacoma Lincoln Bowl. He also formed an early rock and roll band called the Blue Comets with his friends, drummer Greg Hawkins and pianist Steve Anderson. By 1958, Rich was playing regularly at Steve's Gay '90s Restaurant in South Tacoma. Buck Owens, who was living in Tacoma while working at radio station KAYE, attended one of his shows and immediately went to speak with him; Rich was soon playing fiddle with Owens at local venues. They were featured on the weekly BAR-K Jamboree on KTNT-TV 13, where Loretta Lynn was a guest with them for her television debut. Soon after, Owens' "Under Your Spell Again" made it to No. 4 on the country music charts, and he returned to Bakersfield, California to do more recording for Capitol Records.
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